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Hints and answers for Connections for March 16, #644.

Here are hints and the answer for today's Wordle No. 1,366 for March 16.

Trump said the U.S. would use "overwhelming lethal force" until Iranian-backed Houthi rebels cease their attacks on shipping. The Houthis said nine civilians were killed.

(Image credit: Osamah Abdulrahman)

XPPen Artist Pro 24 Gen 2 4K: one-minute review

The XPPen Artist Pro 24 Gen 2 4K is a well-performing 24-inch drawing display that offers a natural drawing experience and comes with some great accessories for a surprisingly reasonable price. The most notable of the accessories include the X3 Pro Smart Chip and X3 Pro Slim styli, pre-mounted ACS02 Stand, ACK05 Wireless Shortcut Remote, and much more.

With 4K resolution and the capability of displaying 16.7 million colors, I could see my photos in more detail than ever before. It was easy to transition between color spaces depending on my task by using the XPPen Pen Tablet driver. The typical color gamut ratio of the XPPen Artist Pro 24 Gen 2 4K is impressive, covering 99% sRGB, 99% Adobe RGB, and 98% Display P3. Further color calibration is achievable using the free XPPen Color Master program and a colorimeter, should you want complete control over the output.

(Image credit: Future)

My drawing experience felt satisfyingly natural and free of complications over the hours I tested the XPPen Artist Pro 24 Gen 2 4K, to the point where it could prove a worthy rival to many of the best drawing tablets. Some key features that made this drawing display such a pleasure to work with include the practically-bordered 526 x 296mm working area, the optimally textured anti-glare etched and anti-fingerprint coated glass surface, and the 60-degree tilt range of the styli. I didn’t encounter any lag or jitter, and although there was a tiny bit of parallax, despite the fully laminated screen, a quick calibration in the settings put this right in moments.

I only encountered minor niggles when testing the XPPen Artist Pro 24 Gen 2 4K, the worst of which being some brushes requiring much more pressure for the stroke to be visible, though this could be rectified in the relevant design software’s settings. This small misgiving is more than forgivable though, considering the quality, accessories, and performance you get for the low $1,299.99 / £1,199 / AU$1899.99 price tag. If you’ve been eyeing up a Wacom but can’t bring yourself to make such a large investment, the XPPen Artist Pro 24 Gen 2 4K is the perfect solution, delivering stunning results for a reasonable price.

XPPen Artist Pro 24 Gen 2 4K review: price and availability

• Announced: October 22, 2024
• List price $1,299.99 / £1,199 / AU$1899.99

The XPPen Artist Pro 24 Gen 2 series, which includes the 4K model I’ve been testing, and a slightly cheaper 165Hz model, was announced on October 22nd, 2024, and is available now on the XPPen website in the US and Australia. I’m sorry to say that we Brits may need to wait a little longer for the 4K model, as at the time of writing delivery isn't expected until mid-June 2025, although there's a handful left in stock at Amazon UK. The XPPen Artist Pro 24 Gen 2 4K retails at $1,299.99 / £1,199 / AU$1899.99 but at present, the price has been discounted to $1,065.99 / £1,139.05 / AU$1,557.99 in a Valentine's Day sale.

You get a lot of bang for your buck with the XPPen Artist Pro 24 Gen 2 4K, as a purchase doesn’t just get you a large-format drawing display, but also the X3 Pro Smart Chip and X3 Pro Slim styli, plus a sturdy dual styli case, an ACK05 Wireless Shortcut Remote, all the cables you could ask for, and more.

(Image credit: Future) XPPen Artist Pro 24 Gen 2 4K review: specs XPPen Artist Pro 24 Gen 2 4K review: design

• Sturdy metal stand included
• Convenient stylus storage
• Three multifunctional buttons on top of display

The overall aesthetic of the XPPen Artist Pro 24 Gen 2 4K is clean and understated. The working area has been kept practical, with a generously sized border giving me plenty of space for my hand and wrist. The only buttons on the unit itself are three multifunctional ones on the top right that serve as both brightness adjusters and signal changers.

XPPen helpfully includes all the required cables, including HDMI, DisplayPort, and USB-C to USB-C cables, plus different regional power cables. While this is undeniably convenient, it feels a little excessive, and some of those cables will likely prove redundant for many purchasers. In the name of sustainability, there’s a little more control over the accessories received when purchasing the Wacom One, although one gets a bit of a shock from the new total price once the pen and cable costs have been factored in.

(Image credit: Future)

Once the power and USB-C cables were in place there was a plastic cable cover that helped neaten up the cables and keep the dust at bay, though it took a fair bit of persuasion to clip onto the back of the display. The pen clips on the top of the display worked well, although the holder for the slim was made of a rubber-like material that attracted lint the moment I took it out of the plastic. I was pleased with the premium-feeling stylus case and appreciated that I could stand a stylus in there, as the top of the display was a bit of a reach for me. If there was the option to mount a pen clip on the side too, that would have been ideal.

A very much appreciated accessory that’s included as standard is the ACS02 Stand. It felt and proved very sturdy, which I should hope considering how heavy it is. It was easy to adjust using the central trigger, with an achievable angle range of 16 to 72 degrees. The included glove, on the other hand, isn’t exactly premium, but it did its job well; helping my hand to glide across the surface of the display, removing the chance of any mischief being caused by my palm or rogue fingers.

• Design score: 4.5 / 5

XPPen Artist Pro 24 Gen 2 4K review: performance

• Vivid colors and impressive detail
• Precise performance with no lag or jitter
• Easy and assignable pressure and shortcut customization

The XPPen Artist Pro 24 Gen 2 4K came to life and happily presented an extension of my desktop, no setting tweaks required. I very much appreciated this straightforward start, due to other displays I've tested that proved a nightmare by refusing to connect and/or sustain a connection. The UX of the XPPen Tablet driver was easy to navigate, and different settings were easy to find and change. I was also grateful how straightforward it was to change the stylus shortcut keys and adjust the pen pressure, and that I could assign different settings to specific applications.

The fully laminated display did a good job of reducing the parallax, but as there was still some present to a degree, I completed the calibration sequence in the settings, which knocked it on the head.

I found the display’s anti-glare etched glass surface delightful to sketch on – it had the right kind of texture to feel like I was drawing on paper. I didn’t find either stylus catching at any point, which was nice to experience from a drawing display. The display is stated to be anti-glare and I’m inclined to agree – even with a bright daylight bulb in my desk lamp, I didn’t encounter any problems with reflections on the screen.

I also (very reluctantly) put my fingers on the screen in a few areas to test the anti-fingerprint coating and no pesky prints were left behind. However, after picking up the XPPen Artist Pro 24 Gen 2 4K, I could definitely see where my hands had been on the black border. But I’m still satisfied that it didn't pick up any marks while I was working on it, plus the XPPen cleaning cloth removed both fingerprints and dust.

The XPPen Artist Pro 24 Gen 2 4K can reportedly display 1.07 billion colors and has a typical color gamut ratio of 99% sRGB, 99% Adobe RGB, and 98% Display P3. For those who want an advanced level of control over the screen’s output, the free XPPen ColorMaster software compatible with this model gives freedom to calibrate in real-time, to ensure the display is producing the most accurate results. The software has been developed with color calibration aficionados Calman and uses their color accuracy engine, but it’s worth noting that a colorimeter is required for complete color calibration.

Colors looked oversaturated in the first instance when looking at some of my photographs (many of which, yes, featured alpacas, if you're asking). This was due to the default color space being set to Adobe RGB, which, predictably, was the best choice for when I was doing graphic design or drawing, but a quick switch to sRGB in the driver settings made my photographs a little less psychedelic.

(Image credit: Future)

The brightness of the display was adequate. I did find myself increasing it to the max level soon after I began testing it, as the desktop was noticeably dimmer than my MacBook screen. However, when I opened a new (startlingly white) document to draw on, I quickly regretted that decision. The quality of the XPPen Artist Pro 24 Gen 2 4K’s display was impressive; it delivered great clarity and vibrancy, bringing fond memories back to life while also enhancing the detail in my photos, like the one above of Ernesto the alpaca.

Although drawing slates like the XPPen Magic Drawing Pad are great for the price, I far preferred working with the XPPen Artist Pro 24 Gen 2 4K – as one would hope, considering the vast difference in cost. I spent several hours drawing on the XPPen Artist Pro 24 Gen 2 4K to get an accurate idea of how well it handled different speeds, motions, and levels of detail. I began by drawing test lines with different brushes, including some very fast strokes, and there was no lag or jitter in sight. At times I used some very texture-heavy brushes in large sizes, the kind that used to fatally offend my previous MacBook, and still, I didn’t encounter any issues with lag. The result of every movement I made was precise, and my stylus strokes felt superbly smooth and natural during the hours I spent sketching, drawing, and writing.

• Performance score: 5 / 5

XPPen Artist Pro 24 Gen 2 4K review: stylus

• Two pens, each with customizable buttons
• Ergonomic, comfortable design
• 8K pressure sensitivity with programmable curves

The XPPen Artist Pro 24 Gen 2 4K comes with the X3 Pro Smart Chip and the X3 Pro Slim styli, both of which boast 16,388 pressure levels. While this is twice as much pressure as the styli included with the well-rated Xencelabs Pen Display 16, we're unlikely to be capable of utilizing anything above the 8K industry standard, so a pressure sensitivity of 16,388 isn’t quite as impressive as it may sound.

One issue I encountered was that strokes from certain brushes, such as pencils, didn’t always show up on the canvas, so I found myself needing to put more pressure down than felt necessary. This can be worked around by changing the pressure in the design software’s settings, but it was a little frustrating switching between brushes to find the stylus had seemingly run out of lead.

Both styli felt lightweight, with the Slim stylus weighing 10g, and the Smart Chip weighing 16g, but they were still heavy enough that it felt like working with hollow plastic. The styli can support a satisfying 60-degree tilt. This gave me more control over my line variation and allowed me to write and draw the way I would with a pen.

(Image credit: Future)

There are customizable buttons on both the styli, and they support pen ID recognition, which proved helpful while I was switching between them both during testing,. However, the X3 Pro Slim stylus quickly proved to be my favorite of the two provided, as I loved how it felt like a traditional pen in my hand. To be clear, the X3 Pro Smart Chip stylus is also great, especially as the standard nibs can be swapped out for felt nibs, four of which are included, along with a further ten standard nibs. The X3 Pro Slim stylus has fourteen replacements too, so I can’t see myself needing to purchase replacements any time soon.

The ACK05 Wireless Shortcut Remote was a great addition to my drawing sessions, for the most part. It sits flat on the desk, and because it’s compact, I could fit it between myself and the XPPen Artist Pro 24 Gen 2 4K, providing easy access to the customizable keys. There’s also a dial for actions such as zooming in and out and adjusting brush sizes, but I found it inefficient as I couldn’t make adjustments in small increments. The jump between each click of the dial seemed unreasonably large, so it offered imprecise control. Aside from that element, though, I was very fond of the ACK05 Wireless Shortcut Remote, due to the simple connection process, satisfying scissor switches, and impressive 300-hour battery life.

• Stylus Score: 4 / 5

(Image credit: Future) Should I buy the XPPen Artist Pro 24 Gen 2 4K? Buy it if…

You want a well-performing drawing display without the premium price tag
I’ll be honest, I didn’t expect such a fabulous performance from a large format 4K drawing display at such a low price, so I was left a little gobsmacked with how satisfying and natural the drawing experience felt. With similar models from competitors listed for an extra thousand, this drawing display is undoubtedly value for money.

You want a lot of drawing room
There’s a vast amount of drawing room on offer with this drawing display, more than I’ve ever gotten to play with before, and now I’m not sure I can ever go back. Plus, the adjustable stand means that you can make the most of the space in a way that’s most comfortable for you.

Don’t buy it if…

Space is limited
This drawing display and its metal stand are a goliath in size and weight. I’m fortunate to have a wider-than-average desk, but even so, it proved to be a tad obstructive. It could also prove a bit too much of a chonk to relocate regularly, so a designated space would be ideal.

You want something that can be relocated with ease
It’s quite unlikely one would purchase a 24-inch drawing display with a mind to commute with it, but even if it’s a case of moving it on and off a desk, it could prove a little exhausting. A better option would be the aforementioned Xencelabs Pen Display 16, which is not only lighter but comes with a handy carry case, too.

XPPen Artist Pro 24 Gen 2 4K review: also consider

Xencelabs Pen Display 24
The (current) top spot holder in our pick of the best drawing tablets, Xencelabs 24-inch pen display received a glowing five-star rating when we tested it thanks to its fantastic performance, build quality, and accessories. It’s a well-balanced pen display that is perfect for professionals and aspiring digital artists, proving an accessible asset thanks to its affordable price.

Xencelabs Pen Display 16
If you need a tablet that won’t be a space invader and can plausibly carry about, the 4.5-star rated Xencelabs Pen Display 16 would make a great choice. Like XPPen, Xencelabs provides everything needed to get started, along with a convenient carry case. Easy to use with a stunning display and highly customizable controls, this is the perfect alternative if you don’t have the space to spare.

(Image credit: Future) XPPen Artist Pro 24 Gen 2 4K review: how I tested

• I spent many hours drawing on the XPPen Artist Pro 24 Gen 2 4K over one week
• I used it for photo editing and drawing using Affinity software
• I tested for parallax, lag, and jittering, and created some graphic script using various brushes for linework and texture.

During my week testing the XPPen Artist Pro 24 Gen 2 4K, I tested the ease of setup and usability. I did some photo editing on Affinity Photo, and did lots of experimenting with different settings and tools on Affinity Designer, using my favorites to draw some lettering and add texture. I also tested how the Artist Pro 24 Gen 2 4K handled other tasks such as locating and previewing files in Finder and opening different file types.

I performed line tests to check for jitter and lag and tested the tilt angle and pressure sensitivity to get a feel for how responsive and realistic the drawing experience was. I also compared the XPPen Artist Pro 24 Gen 2 4K and its accessories against previous pen displays I’ve tested, as well as its specs against equivalent products on the market.

In terms of experience, I've used many a drawing tablet over the years, right back to when they were teeny-tiny pads with flimsy plastic pens. I've also had a couple of decades of experience with Affinity (formerly known as Serif), Creative Cloud software, and plenty of programs in between.

• First reviewed: February 2025
• Read more about how we test

Want to find out what the best broadband is in Montana's capital, Helena? We've found the fastest, most affordable and those in between.

• Meta is reportedly readying its first in-house AI training chip for deployment
• The dedicated AI accelerator, made with TSMC, completed tape-out
• Meta’s shift to custom silicon aims to reduce its dependence on Nvidia hardware

Like many of Nvidia’s highest spending customers, Meta is looking to slash its reliance on the GPU maker’s expensive AI hardware by making its own silicon.

In 2024, the social media giant began advertising for engineers to help build its own state-of-the-art machine learning accelerators, and now, according to an exclusive report from Reuters, Meta is at the testing stage for its first in-house chip designed for training AI systems.

Sources told Reuters that following its first tape-out of the chip, Meta has started a limited deployment, and if testing goes well, it plans to scale production for wider use.

RISC-V business

According to Reuters, “Meta's new training chip is a dedicated accelerator, meaning it is designed to handle only AI-specific tasks. This can make it more power-efficient than the integrated graphics processing units (GPUs) generally used for AI workloads.”

Taiwan-based chipmaker TSMC produced the silicon for Meta as part of the Facebook owner’s Meta Training and Inference Accelerator (MTIA) program, something which Reuters points out has had “a wobbly start for years and at one point scrapped a chip at a similar phase of development.”

In 2023, Meta unveiled its first-generation in-house AI inference accelerator designed to power the ranking and recommendation systems for Facebook and Instagram, and then in April 2024 it debuted a new version that doubled the compute and memory bandwidth.

At the 2024 Hot Chips symposium, Meta revealed that its inference chip was built on TSMC's 5nm process, with the processing elements on RISC-V cores.

Like a growing number of tech firms, Facebook has thrown its weight behind RISC-V in order to recognize its AI ambitions, and although the Reuters report doesn’t provide any details on the technical aspects of Meta’s new AI training chip, it seems a fair bet that it too will be based on the open source RISC-V architecture.

The Reuters article does note that Meta executives say they want to start using their own chips for training by next year.

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• Meta is taking a RISC-y route for AI training and inference acceleration
• Meta reveals hardware behind recommendations for Facebook and Instagram
• Meta purportedly trained its AI on more than 80TB of pirated content

• Meta is reportedly readying its first in-house AI training chip for deployment
• The dedicated AI accelerator, made with TSMC, completed tape-out
• Meta’s shift to custom silicon aims to reduce its dependence on Nvidia hardware

Like many of Nvidia’s highest spending customers, Meta is looking to slash its reliance on the GPU maker’s expensive AI hardware by making its own silicon.

In 2024, the social media giant began advertising for engineers to help build its own state-of-the-art machine learning accelerators, and now, according to an exclusive report from Reuters, Meta is at the testing stage for its first in-house chip designed for training AI systems.

Sources told Reuters that following its first tape-out of the chip, Meta has started a limited deployment, and if testing goes well, it plans to scale production for wider use.

RISC-V business

According to Reuters, “Meta's new training chip is a dedicated accelerator, meaning it is designed to handle only AI-specific tasks. This can make it more power-efficient than the integrated graphics processing units (GPUs) generally used for AI workloads.”

Taiwan-based chipmaker TSMC produced the silicon for Meta as part of the Facebook owner’s Meta Training and Inference Accelerator (MTIA) program, something which Reuters points out has had “a wobbly start for years and at one point scrapped a chip at a similar phase of development.”

In 2023, Meta unveiled its first-generation in-house AI inference accelerator designed to power the ranking and recommendation systems for Facebook and Instagram, and then in April 2024 it debuted a new version that doubled the compute and memory bandwidth.

At the 2024 Hot Chips symposium, Meta revealed that its inference chip was built on TSMC's 5nm process, with the processing elements on RISC-V cores.

Like a growing number of tech firms, Facebook has thrown its weight behind RISC-V in order to recognize its AI ambitions, and although the Reuters report doesn’t provide any details on the technical aspects of Meta’s new AI training chip, it seems a fair bet that it too will be based on the open source RISC-V architecture.

The Reuters article does note that Meta executives say they want to start using their own chips for training by next year.

You might also like

• Meta is taking a RISC-y route for AI training and inference acceleration
• Meta reveals hardware behind recommendations for Facebook and Instagram
• Meta purportedly trained its AI on more than 80TB of pirated content

Secretary of State Marco Rubio says he's kicking out the Ambassador from South Africa -accusing him of hating America and hating Donald Trump.

(Image credit: Cliff Owen)

Federal officials placed 1,000 employees at Voice of America on indefinite paid leave, while severing contracts with Radio Free Asia and other U.S.-funded networks.

(Image credit: Andrew Harnik)

Xiaomi 33W 10,000mAh Power Bank: review

The Xiaomi 33W 10,000mAh Power Bank is a small power bank with an integrated USB-C cable for added convenience, making it ideal for light travelers. The smart, minimalist looks are welcome too. The Ice Blue colorway I had looked classy, but there’s a Tan variant if you want something a little lighter. Both models are elegant and complement the sleek form of the Xiaomi 33W 10,000mAh Power Bank.

In keeping with its uncluttered approach, there’s no screen or interface to speak off, aside from a power check button and four discreet LED dots to indicate battery and charging status. Despite their small size, they’re pleasingly bright, which makes them easy to see at a glance or at a distance.

I also appreciated the small form factor, with its square shape taking up little room. This is all the more impressive considering its 10,000mAh capacity, as not even some of the best power banks this size have such a small footprint. However, it’s thicker than some of them, and while the Xiaomi 33W 10,000mAh Power Bank isn’t exactly heavy, it’s not the lightest either.

The plastic material body feels reasonably premium, as it’s smooth to the touch and feels solidly constructed. However, the stress relief for the integrated USB-C cable seems quite flimsy, and I wouldn’t trust it to withstand too many bends or prolonged squashing, so I’d be careful when packing it deep inside a bag. I also wouldn’t use it as a carrying handle, although in fairness, Xiaomi doesn’t mention this as a feature.

Unfortunately, the housing that keeps the jack end stowed away isn’t as secure as I would’ve liked either. It does preserve the perfectly flat contours of the bank, though, as the jack sits flush with the side panel when stowed.

In addition to the integrated cable, the Xiaomi 33W 10,000mAh Power Bank also has a USB-A port and a USB-C port. Three-way simultaneous charging is supported too, as well as two-way 30W fast charging.

Charging performance is good, as it managed to charge my Google Pixel 7a, which has a 4,385mAh battery, from empty to full in just over 90 minutes, which is a solid performance.

More impressively, the Xiaomi 33W 10,000mAh Power Bank only lost one of its four LED dots, which means you should get between 2-3 full charges of a smartphone out of it. Charging the bank itself takes somewhere between three and a half to four hours, which is reasonable for this battery size.

For the price of £19.99 (about $26 / AU$41), the Xiaomi 33W 10,000mAh Power Bank represents good value. Not many power banks with this capacity take up so little real estate, nor have an integrated cable in addition to two extra ports. The cable might not endure as much punishment as others, but for light traveling the Xiaomi 33W 10,000mAh Power Bank should make for a convenient companion.

(Image credit: Future) Xiaomi 33W 10,000mAh Power Bank review: price & specs

(Image credit: Future) Should I buy the Xiaomi 33W 10,000mAh Power Bank? Buy it if…

You want something small
Not many power banks with this capacity are so small, and it’s quite easy to tuck away in a pocket.

You want multiple charges
The Xiaomi 33W 10,000mAh Power Bank only lost one bar after fully replenishing my smartphone, so you should get at least a couple of charges from it.

Don't buy it if…

You’re going to take it on adventure holidays
The Xiaomi 33W 10,000mAh Power Bank is built well enough, but the stress relief for the integrated isn’t the sturdiest, and the jack housing isn’t the most secure.

You want something thin
It may be short across its length and width, but it’s quite thick in terms of depth, which arguably might be the most important dimension for some.

Xiaomi 33W 10,000mAh Power Bank review: Also consider

Iniu B41
The Iniu B41 has the same capacity as the Xiaomi 33W 10,000mAh Power Bank but is slightly cheaper, although it has less power and doesn’t have an integrated cable. It does, however, include a handy flashlight. And while it’s longer than the Xiaomi 33W 10,000mAh Power Bank, it’s thinner, which might be preferable for some users. The port selection is slightly different too, with two USB-A ports and one USB-C port. Read our Iniu B41 review.

Two back-to-back Israeli airstrikes in northern Gaza killed at least nine people on Saturday, according to Gaza civil defense. Witnesses say several of those killed were aid workers and journalists.

(Image credit: Jehad Alshrafi)

Give a little joy with the perfect board game. Tabletop games are more diverse and popular than ever, which makes them fantastic gift options. There’s something for every player. From kid-friendly family games to heavy strategy quests, these are our expert recommendations of the best board game gifts around.

Can Les Bleus clinch the title in front of a home crowd in Paris?

• Emailtooltester survey finds many employees feel pressured to respond to emails after hours
• Only 41.7% of work emails are deemed relevant by employees
• Three in four workers answer work emails while on vacation

A new survey has claimed 90.4% of American workers support a “right-to-disconnect” law, allowing them to ignore work emails outside of office hours without fear of repercussions.

The study by Emailtooltester of over a thousand Americans revealed the majority of respondents are overwhelmed by the volume of work emails they receive.

On average, the survey found people receive 32 emails a day, with some getting over 50. However, only about 41.7% of these emails are relevant to their work, adding to the frustration.

Email anxiety

Though many email services offer "snooze" or "do not disturb" settings, allowing users to mute notifications outside of work hours, many workers feel pressured to respond quickly. 71.1% of respondents believe that their bosses expect immediate replies to email after hours.

These work emails make 80.8% of respondents feel anxious, while another 58.3% are more anxious about how regularly they have to deal with such emails. Three in four people admitting to answering work emails on vacation.

The survey found constant pressure to stay on top of emails is affecting workers' mental health. 78.7% of respondents have dreaded opening their work inbox, with 58.5% regularly experiencing this anxiety.

The availability of email clients, plus ready support for most email hosting platforms across devices, makes it difficult for workers to switch off mentally. Two-thirds of workers have lost sleep over an email, and 73.6% admit to communicating less with loved ones due to burnout from work-related communications.

This email stress is compounded by mistakes made in the rush to respond. Around 65.1% of respondents reported getting into trouble at work for email mistakes, with some saying they missed important emails due to inbox clutter or messages being sent to spam.

As more people feel the negative effects of constant connectivity, the push for a “right-to-disconnect” law is gaining momentum.

Nearly all respondents (90.4%) agreed that such a law would benefit them, offering protection from out-of-hours work communication.

Similar legislation has already been introduced in France and, more recently, Australia, where employees have the legal right to disconnect from work after hours.

Despite this overwhelming support, 70.6% of respondents believe their bosses would resist such a law. However, the need for boundaries between work and personal life is becoming more apparent as digital communication blurs the line.

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• Emailtooltester survey finds many employees feel pressured to respond to emails after hours
• Only 41.7% of work emails are deemed relevant by employees
• Three in four workers answer work emails while on vacation

A new survey has claimed 90.4% of American workers support a “right-to-disconnect” law, allowing them to ignore work emails outside of office hours without fear of repercussions.

The study by Emailtooltester of over a thousand Americans revealed the majority of respondents are overwhelmed by the volume of work emails they receive.

On average, the survey found people receive 32 emails a day, with some getting over 50. However, only about 41.7% of these emails are relevant to their work, adding to the frustration.

Email anxiety

Though many email services offer "snooze" or "do not disturb" settings, allowing users to mute notifications outside of work hours, many workers feel pressured to respond quickly. 71.1% of respondents believe that their bosses expect immediate replies to email after hours.

These work emails make 80.8% of respondents feel anxious, while another 58.3% are more anxious about how regularly they have to deal with such emails. Three in four people admitting to answering work emails on vacation.

The survey found constant pressure to stay on top of emails is affecting workers' mental health. 78.7% of respondents have dreaded opening their work inbox, with 58.5% regularly experiencing this anxiety.

The availability of email clients, plus ready support for most email hosting platforms across devices, makes it difficult for workers to switch off mentally. Two-thirds of workers have lost sleep over an email, and 73.6% admit to communicating less with loved ones due to burnout from work-related communications.

This email stress is compounded by mistakes made in the rush to respond. Around 65.1% of respondents reported getting into trouble at work for email mistakes, with some saying they missed important emails due to inbox clutter or messages being sent to spam.

As more people feel the negative effects of constant connectivity, the push for a “right-to-disconnect” law is gaining momentum.

Nearly all respondents (90.4%) agreed that such a law would benefit them, offering protection from out-of-hours work communication.

Similar legislation has already been introduced in France and, more recently, Australia, where employees have the legal right to disconnect from work after hours.

Despite this overwhelming support, 70.6% of respondents believe their bosses would resist such a law. However, the need for boundaries between work and personal life is becoming more apparent as digital communication blurs the line.

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• Free email accounts: listed and compared
• We've also listed the best email marketing services right now

Jacksonville offers several great internet providers, with AT&T as CNET’s top pick. Here are the best options for fast, affordable plans.

CNET's here to help you find the best internet provider in Flint. While Xfinity dominates, alternative options may better suit your needs.

Cuktech 15 Ultra review

The Cuktech 15 Ultra is a power bank with a large output designed for charging laptops and similar devices on the go. There’s no getting around the fact that it’s a sizable unit. It’s admirably thin across its width, but it’s quite long and has a thick depth. This shape may suit some but disappoint others depending on the dimensions and packing arrangements of their luggage.

Its looks aren’t anything special, adopting a two-tone grey and black color scheme that’s not the most vibrant. The front panel for the screen looks smart with its gloss finish, though, while the back panel has a subtle texture that helps with grip slightly.

The build quality of the Cuktech 15 Ultra is quite good, with materials that feel reasonably premium and there’s no flex at all when pressing any side. However, the join as the chassis meets the display is quite prominent, owing to the inset nature of the display panel, so this isn’t as seamless a design as some of the best power banks out there.

The power button is integrated within the display panel, although again there’s a fairly prominent gap around the edges. Oddly, it’s emblazoned with two vertical lines, rather than the standard power symbol, but it’s at least clear to see. It operates very smoothly, providing plenty of feedback when clicked.

The standout feature of the Cuktech 15 Ultra, though, is the screen. It can display information such as total input and output readings, as well as real-time wattage, amperage and voltage. Battery level, estimated charging times, and temperature warnings are also given.

There are also a few settings that can be adjusted using this screen: you can choose whether the first USB-C port is input only, output only, or both; and you can set the screen to always stay on – two useful features I haven’t seen on other power banks.

However, despite the full-length front panel, the actual display only comprises a small area by comparison, meaning all readouts are crammed into a relatively small space, which does compromise readability somewhat.

The Cuktech 15 Ultra features two USB-C ports and one USB-A port, delivering a total output of 165W, or a maximum of 140W from a single port. Three-way simultaneous charging is also possible, although the maximum outputs drop to 100W for one USB-C port, 45W for the other, and 15W for the USB-A port. Three ports might be plenty for some, but there are similarly sized – and even some smaller – power banks out there that manage to pack in four ports.

When it comes to performance, the Cuktech 15 Ultra managed to charge an HP Chromebook Plus 15.6-inch, which can charge at 45W, from empty to 98% in about two hours, which is an impressive performance – and it stayed cool throughout. However, it ran out of battery before it could charge the Chromebook to 100%, so it just falls short of providing even a single full charge for large devices.

Thankfully, charging the Cuktech 15 Ultra itself is quick, as it took me about an hour to top it up from 25% to full. This was via a single USB-C input, but you can use both ports at the same time for increased charging power.

Given its price, the Cuktech 15 Ultra competes with other large power banks, such as the Anker Laptop Power Bank, which is similarly priced. This bank, though, has a slightly larger capacity, and features two inbuilt USB-C for added convenience. However, its display doesn’t quite offer the same wealth of information as the Cuktech 15 Ultra. The two are closely matched, so if you went for the Cuktech 15 Ultra, you likely won’t be disappointed.

(Image credit: Future) Cuktech 15 Ultra review: price & specs

(Image credit: Future) Should I buy the Cuktech 15 Ultra? Buy it if…

You want to charge large devices
The large 165W total output means you should be able to charge many modern laptops.

You want plenty of information
The Cuktech 15 Ultra has some of the most comprehensive information I’ve seen from a power bank display, including readouts for wattage, amperage, and voltage, and various adjustable settings.

Don't buy it if…

You want the largest capacity
The power output might be large, but the 20,000mAh capacity doesn’t quite match up, meaning you might not even get a single full charge of a laptop from it.

You want the smallest power bank
The Cuktech 15 Ultra does an admirable job of condensing all that power into a thin form factor, but it’s still quite thick and long, and not all that light.

Cuktech 15 Ultra: also consider

Anker Laptop Power Bank
If you need plenty of power and output, then the Anker Laptop Power Bank is a great choice. It has similar dimensions to the Cuktech 15 Ultra, but additionally features two inbuilt UCB-C cables: one retractable and one that doubles as a carry handle. It also comes with two extra ports, meaning it beats the Cuktech 15 Ultra by one when it comes to outputs and inputs. While it does have a display, it’s not as detailed as that on the Cuktech 15 Ultra. However, it’s close to the same price (or cheaper in certain regions), yet has the same power output and a slightly greater capacity (25,000mAh).

• Gemini will replace Google Assistant on phones this year
• Currently, the two AI apps can be run alongside each other
• Upgrades for other devices will be announced soon

It's been clear for some time that Gemini is the future of AI assistants as far as Google is concerned, and now it's official: Google Assistant is going to be disappearing from smartphones before the end of the year.

In a blog post (via 9to5Google), Google's Brian Marquardt explains: "Over the coming months, we’re upgrading more users on mobile devices from Google Assistant to Gemini; and later this year, the classic Google Assistant will no longer be accessible on most mobile devices or available for new downloads on mobile app stores."

If you have a phone that doesn't meet the minimum requirements for Gemini, Google Assistant functionality "will not change at this time" – but as those requirements are at least 2GB of RAM, and Android 10 or older, most users will get the upgrade.

Thanks to its generative AI underpinnings, Gemini is much better at chatting and looking up information than Google Assistant, and it's slowly been incorporating all the other tasks that Google Assistant can do on mobile devices. The switchover is now almost done.

Smart speakers and other devices

It's goodbye to the Google Assistant (Image credit: Shutterstock)

For now, Google Assistant will continue to operate on devices such as smart speakers, smart displays, and TVs, Google says – but it's only going to be a matter of time before all these pieces of hardware also get the Gemini treatment.

As for devices that connect directly to phones – like car dashboards, tablets, headphones, and smartwatches – the implication is that a Google Gemini upgrade is more imminent than it is for Nest Hubs and Nest Minis. "We look forward to sharing more details with you in the next few months," writes Marquardt.

The blog post touches on the rapid expansion of Gemini and its capabilities: the AI bot is now available in more than 40 languages across more than 200 countries, and Google says it's been built to carry on the same mission as Google Assistant.

No doubt more upgrades to Gemini are on the way in the months ahead. "We've updated the app to support more of the most requested features, such as playing music, setting timers, or taking action from your lock screen," writes Marquardt.

You might also like

• Gemini is set to replace Google Assistant on your wrist
• The best smart speakers you can buy right now
• How to turn off Google Assistant on your Android phone or tablet

• Gemini will replace Google Assistant on phones this year
• Currently, the two AI apps can be run alongside each other
• Upgrades for other devices will be announced soon

It's been clear for some time that Gemini is the future of AI assistants as far as Google is concerned, and now it's official: Google Assistant is going to be disappearing from smartphones before the end of the year.

In a blog post (via 9to5Google), Google's Brian Marquardt explains: "Over the coming months, we’re upgrading more users on mobile devices from Google Assistant to Gemini; and later this year, the classic Google Assistant will no longer be accessible on most mobile devices or available for new downloads on mobile app stores."

If you have a phone that doesn't meet the minimum requirements for Gemini, Google Assistant functionality "will not change at this time" – but as those requirements are at least 2GB of RAM, and Android 10 or older, most users will get the upgrade.

Thanks to its generative AI underpinnings, Gemini is much better at chatting and looking up information than Google Assistant, and it's slowly been incorporating all the other tasks that Google Assistant can do on mobile devices. The switchover is now almost done.

Smart speakers and other devices

It's goodbye to the Google Assistant (Image credit: Shutterstock)

For now, Google Assistant will continue to operate on devices such as smart speakers, smart displays, and TVs, Google says – but it's only going to be a matter of time before all these pieces of hardware also get the Gemini treatment.

As for devices that connect directly to phones – like car dashboards, tablets, headphones, and smartwatches – the implication is that a Google Gemini upgrade is more imminent than it is for Nest Hubs and Nest Minis. "We look forward to sharing more details with you in the next few months," writes Marquardt.

The blog post touches on the rapid expansion of Gemini and its capabilities: the AI bot is now available in more than 40 languages across more than 200 countries, and Google says it's been built to carry on the same mission as Google Assistant.

No doubt more upgrades to Gemini are on the way in the months ahead. "We've updated the app to support more of the most requested features, such as playing music, setting timers, or taking action from your lock screen," writes Marquardt.

You might also like

• Gemini is set to replace Google Assistant on your wrist
• The best smart speakers you can buy right now
• How to turn off Google Assistant on your Android phone or tablet